Pakistan debutant Razaullah Mashwani produced a remarkable counterattack at Edgbaston, smashing 81 to give his team a fighting chance against England.
The 21-year-old fast bowler struck nine sixes, equalling the Test record for a player’s debut innings. His assault powered Pakistan to 449 and left England needing 130 runs to complete a 3-0 series sweep.
Pakistan Finally Breaks Dismal Batting Pattern
Pakistan entered their final innings after a turbulent tour that began three weeks earlier with Azan Awais falling for a first-ball duck at Headingley.
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Two defeats led to a major overhaul after the Lord’s Test. Pakistan replaced seven players and two coaches, but the changes initially brought little improvement.
Babar Azam’s team collapsed for 133 after the third Test began on Wednesday. It marked Pakistan’s fifth consecutive innings below 200.
England then piled up 453 to secure a 320-run lead. Pakistan appeared headed for another innings defeat before their batting finally clicked.
Azan scored 59, Shan Masood made 95 and Babar contributed 76. Yet Pakistan still faced serious danger at 312 for seven.
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Selectors flew Razaullah into England at short notice before handing him an immediate international debut.
The pacer from Mardan struck with his fourth ball in Test cricket, trapping England captain Joe Root leg-before with a 143kph delivery. However, he conceded 148 runs while taking his next three wickets. His economy rate of 6.43 ranked among the highest recorded by a Test pacer in an innings.
Razaullah responded with the bat during 117 fearless minutes at the crease. He struck Gus Atkinson for three consecutive sixes and launched three more off Jofra Archer in the 88th over.
Batting at number nine, he scored 81 from 63 balls with four fours and nine sixes. He also reached fifty from 43 deliveries, the fastest Test fifty by a Pakistani debutant.
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Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas, who made 42, added 121 runs. Their partnership carried Pakistan from 318 for eight to 439 for nine before Josh Tongue ended the resistance.
Standing Ovation Caps Record-Breaking Knock
Razaullah’s nine sixes matched New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee’s record for the most in a Test debut innings. Southee later finished his career with 97 Test sixes.
The Birmingham crowd gave Razaullah a standing ovation when his innings ended 19 runs short of a century.
“I enjoyed the standing ovation,” Razaullah said with a smile. “I like to enjoy life and I was relishing the moment.”
“I was being selective with which balls to slog, but they all seemed within range,” he said casually. “I wanted to take it as deep as possible. I wasn’t scared of pace. I wanted to punish the balls from Archer that landed on a hard length. There’s nothing to be scared of when you’re playing for your country. I was just enjoying myself.”
“My favourite ball [to face] is the short ball,” Razaullah quipped.
“I just believed in myself. I thought if I played 50 balls, I’d get a positive result.
“And thankfully that happened.”
The innings did not come entirely from nowhere. Razaullah had played eight first-class matches since November 2025 and already owned a century for Peshawar as an opening batter.
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England remained favourites entering day four, but Razaullah ensured Pakistan avoided a meek finish to a bruising tour. His innings also gave the visitors an outside chance of denying England the clean sweep.
